The Euclid Creek Dam, shown here, was funded through the Service's Fish Passage Program in 2006. Removal is scheduled for 2007. - Photo by Lynn Garrity

Biologist Susan Wells visited potential Fish Passage and Coastal Program projects in Ohio, during a two-day tour in July. 

Representatives from the Ohio Division of Wildlife (ODOW), Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District, Chagrin Watershed Coordinators, the Service's Ohio Partners Program and Alpena FRO toured potential stream restoration sites. 

Three dams within the Cleveland area were viewed by the group as good fish passage projects.  One of the dams viewed, on Euclid Creek, has already received funding in 2006 from the Service’s Fish Passage Program and is scheduled for removal in 2007.  Another dam upstream from the funded Euclid Creek project is a larger structure owned by Ohio Department of Transportation and would take a few years to coordinate before removal would be an option. 

The last dam visited by the group was within the Chagrin River Watershed.  It is a privately owned structure that was created to pond water for the local community, but is now being looked at with the option of removal versus maintaining the pond, which is filling with sediment.   

A fourth dam within the Findlay area, was visited by the Service and ODOW.  This structure is owned by ODOW who are also looking to provide fish passage to upstream waters.  It is located on the Auglaize River, a major tributary to the Maumee River.  This project proposes cutting the head of the dam and installing rock rapids below to allow fish to migrate above the dam. 

Two other projects that involve in-stream work were viewed, including restoration of delta islands at the mouth of Euclid Creek. This project has potential for funding through the Coastal Program.

Upon conclusion of the tour, Wells identified one new Fish Passage project for potential funding in 2007, with other projects having potential for funding in future years as partners start to come together.